Summer of Hikes- Pawnee Buttes 5/18/2014

I’ve made it my goal to go hiking every weekend this summer. I’ll post photos from my hikes on here so you can enjoy them!

On the 18th, I geared up in my beat up old hiking boots and drove an hour-ish northeast of Greeley to hike around the Pawnee Buttes. Last time I was up in the Pawnee Grasslands was with my Brothers for our Spring Retreat, and it SNOWED on us. SNOWED in APRIL. Our sponsor came with us, and kept making fun of my pup tent, saying it would fall over. What up, it did not.

Anyway, that’s a completely different story. Luckily it did not snow on me the second time I went out there. When I finally reached the trailhead, there were no other cars there (around 9 am). The first thing I saw, though, were the cows.

Once they saw me, they moved quickly away, and I continued on with my life. That’s when I came up the small hill and looked out into the distance.

Talk about BEAUTIFUL. It took my breath away. I admired the view for a few minutes, then began my way down the hill.

After I got down the initial hill, I was in what looked like a dry riverbed, twisting and turning around and around.

I did enjoy turning around a lot to look at Lips Bluff.

 

Oh no- the way is blocked! I figured that rain had washed all of the tumbleweed into a corner. I carefully picked my way around them, and was a little nervous that I might run across a rattle snake. Luckily, I did not.

 

Some flowers around the trail.

 

 

The only “animals” I saw on the trail itself was this moth and some animal bones.

While my goal had been to make it to the West Butte, I realized that I was getting tired and should turn back (darn it for being out of shape). I made it back to the trailhead, and after studying the map, realized I was actually relatively close to my goal. Double darn it!

After studying the map, I figured that I made it as far as the second “t” in the Buttes, where it’s labelled on the map. Oh well. I guess that means I have to come back, right?

On my way out I stopped for a view of the prairie. Those Western Skies, man.

Also, I ran into these guys! My first real animals of the day!

 

 

 

Summer of Hikes- Glenmere Park 5/11/2014

I’ve made it my goal to go hiking every weekend this summer. I’ll post photos from my hikes on here so you can enjoy them!

I was supposed to go hiking with my dad on this particular Sunday, since his birthday was coming up that week. However, Northern Colorado was hit my a random snow storm, so my dad decided it would be dangerous to go up to the mountains to hike. I agree, but I was not going to be deterred from my hiking goal- especially not on the first weekend of summer break. So I googled “hiking in Greeley” and the first thing that popped up was Glenmere Park, a .2 mile “hike.” Sure, why not. I love Glenmere.

I went to my favorite coffee shop, “The Blue Mug at Margie’s,” and get a drink, then went over to Glenmere and walked around, snapping photos and drinking coffee. There was no one else there, and I really enjoyed the silence of the intermittent snow and rain falling.

The first thing I noticed was how high the water was.

Then I noticed the locals coming to see this strange visitor.

I took photos of the plants….

Looks like someone got to the bridge before me!

Overall, the amount of water travelling through was the most surprising part of the walk.

Month of Nature #12- “A Doe and her Fawns”

This wasn’t in Custer State Park, but a few miles away from the border near our campground. They were standing only a few hundred feet from the road. The fawns, of course, were not concerned, but the mother was QUITE concerned. She kept tucking them behind her and trying to get them to go back into the trees, but they were more preoccupied with eating. So precious. 🙂

 

Month of Nature #11- “Bison”

Ah. Look at all of the beautiful bison! Custer State Park has a herd of 1,300 in the park, if I remember right, and when my parents and I were driving through we ran into a lot of them. I envy the days before the bison were hunted down- and as far as you could see, there they were.

Month of Nature #10- “Lilacs”

In the town of Custer, South Dakota, there are many old buildings. Behind one of them there are a lot of lilac bushes- and they are beautiful! It had just rained, so the sky was grey and water droplets on the bushes. It was beautiful.

Month of Nature #9- “Antelope”

This past weekend, my parents and I took a trip up to Custer, South Dakota. While driving through the National Park, we saw many, many animals! I took a lot of photos. And since I recently figured out how to do panorama photos, I took a bunch for those. Either way, antelope! That’s this photo! That’s all.

Month of Nature #8- “Sun through the Blossoms”

My last Xeric photo- it’s reminiscent of Day 187- “Illuminated” from my 365 Project. That’s all.

 

Month of Nature #7- “Bee”

 

Pictured here is another Xeric Demonstration Garden picture- of a bee hanging out on a flower. The fun part was, I was standing in the middle of a few rose bushes, surrounded by bees. It was a bit nerve wracking, but bees really aren’t vicious like some people think.

Month of Nature #6- “Tiger Lily”

 

If you followed my blog around this time last year, you’ll be familiar with my love-hate relationship with Xeric Demonstration Garden. (You can check out some info about it in my 365 Project here.) Anyway, I ventured back to Xeric after months of not going near there. Xeric is really a lot prettier when you don’t work there, I decided. Either wy, this is a pretty Tiger Lily I found there.

Month of Nature #5- “Dead Man Lake Panorama”

This is a nice little lake near Fort Collins, called Dead Man Lake, or Deadman’s Lake, depending on who you ask. And yes, people have died there, due to the sharp, almost ninety degree turns that the road takes around the lake. It’s really insane.

Either way, that aside, this a panorama I took of the lake. I stitched three separate photos together using “Microsoft Image Composite Editor.” It’s a very handy program!